Fort Yukon Greenhouse Project

Fort Yukon, Alaska

Latest Update

The Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) leadership has continued working with the Gwichyaa Zhee Gwich’in Tribal Council (GZG) to build a greenhouse in Fort Yukon, Alaska. TCC is coordinating with the Alaska Energy Authority to use the heat recovery system of a new power plant that will provide heat for the greenhouse project. Land for the greenhouse has been purchased by GZG, and preparatory work has taken place to get the site ready for construction. TCC also identified greenhouse equipment and supplies to procure and is working to complete a final design of the greenhouse. Upcoming activities include working with Reina Properties to approve a final design for the greenhouse, ordering components for the project, and completing construction by winter.

Project Summary

Using Combined Heat and Power for Greenhouse Crop Production

In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help residents save on food expenses, an intertribal consortium in a rural, roadless area of Alaska will grow crops for community consumption in an energy-efficient greenhouse warmed by recovered waste heat. The project will:

recover heat from the city power plant to grow crops in a greenhouse,

educate schoolchildren and adults about local agriculture, and

conduct an assessment of the heat recovery system to identify potential upgrades.

The Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) is constructing an energy-efficient greenhouse in Fort Yukon, AK that will utilize recovered heat from the city’s diesel-fired power plant, extending the growing season. TCC is coordinating closely with the Alaska Energy Authority to ensure that the new power plant in Fort Yukon is optimized for maximum heat recovery to be able to adequately supply several community buildings as well as the greenhouse. Over time, the community plans to integrate a wood-fired heating system to reduce diesel consumption, further reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The project will help reduce the need to import processed food via air, thus reducing the associated GHG emissions. In addition, it will help combat the very high food costs in the community. Produce from the greenhouse will be sold at two local stores and will be made available to the local school and assisted living facility at wholesale rates.

The project will also teach local students about food miles, local economies, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture. Gardening workshops will be held for all interested citizens. The project is expected to create two full-time jobs, and the greenhouse is expected to generate sizeable revenue.

The project’s final component is an engineering assessment of the heat recovery system to improve the performance of the overall system, as the Alaska Energy Authority has determined that upgrades could save over 50,000 gallons of diesel annually.